BEARS PLUS.

Bears keep edge on Packers in race for a 1st-round bye

December 24, 2001|By John Mullin, Tribune staff reporter.

LANDOVER, Md. — The Bears didn't change their playoff status with Sunday's 20-15 win over the Washington Redskins. They still are in line for a first-round bye at 11-3, but they stayed ahead of the Green Bay Packers, and right now that matters.

If the Bears can stay one game ahead of the Packers and win the Central Division, they will assure themselves of a week off after the regular season.

The Bears would open the playoffs Jan. 19 or 20 at Soldier Field.

The Philadelphia Eagles lost Saturday to fall to 9-5 and now cannot overtake the Bears for the second-best record among division winners.

The problem remains the Packers, who were 30-7 winners at home Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. The Bears need to finish at least a game ahead of the Packers since Green Bay holds the tiebreaker edge over the Bears by virtue of their two wins this season.

The St. Louis Rams (12-2) lead the Bears by a game in the race for the home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs, and they are unlikely to lose again. The Rams finish the season with home games against Indianapolis (5-9) Sunday and Atlanta (7-7) on Jan. 6.

The Bears are at Detroit (1-13) Sunday and return to Soldier Field on Jan. 6 to take on Jacksonville (6-8).

If the Bears and Rams both win their divisions and finish 12-4 or 13-3, the Bears would win any tiebreaker for the home field throughout the NFC playoffs.